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Recipe Testing Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Purple Carrot

Recipe Developer

Chicago, IL · On-site

$60K - $70K/yr

As the Recipe Developer, you will be focused on end-to-end culinary recipe development from ... Own continual testing and optimization of Purple Carrot's recipes to improve customer experience ...

Kinder's

Recipe & Content Chef

Walnut Creek, CA · On-site

Recipe Development & Testing: * Develop and test original recipes that highlight our seasonings and sauces, ensuring they are delicious, accessible, and easy to follow. * Adapt and refine existing ...

Kinder's

Recipe & Content Chef

Walnut Creek, CA · Hybrid

$100K - $115K/yr

Recipe Development & Testing: * Develop and test original recipes that highlight our seasonings and sauces, ensuring they are delicious, accessible, and easy to follow. * Adapt and refine existing ...

New

Compass Group

Pastry Sous Chef

Brooklyn, NY · On-site

$70K - $90K/yr

This hands-on role includes daily production, menu development, recipe testing, ordering and inventory oversight, and maintaining food, labor, health, and safety standards. The Pastry Sous Chef is ...

Purple Carrot

Recipe Developer

Chicago, IL

$60K - $70K/yr

As the Recipe Developer, you will be focused on end-to-end culinary recipe development from ... Own continual testing and optimization of Purple Carrot's recipes to improve customer experience ...

Compass Group

Pastry Sous Chef

Brooklyn, NY · On-site

$70K - $80K/yr

This hands-on role includes daily production, menu development, recipe testing, ordering and inventory oversight, and maintaining food, labor, health, and safety standards. The Pastry Sous Chef is ...

Compass Group

Pastry Sous Chef

Brooklyn, NY · On-site

$70K - $80K/yr

This hands-on role includes daily production, menu development, recipe testing, ordering and inventory oversight, and maintaining food, labor, health, and safety standards. The Pastry Sous Chef is ...

Carlo's Bakery Lackawanna

Baker

Jersey City, NJ

$14.25 - $18.50/hr

We are looking for a self-motivated and productive baker to assist our R&D Department in recipe testing and documentation. We develop new concepts, as well as improve current product lines for ...

Tavistock Restaurant Collection

Sous Chef

Orlando, FL · On-site

$43K - $59K/yr

Participate in menu rollouts, seasonal features, recipe testing, tastings, and special events. * Maintain productive communication and alignment with front-of-house leadership to support smooth ...

Union Square Events

Pastry Sous Chef

Brooklyn, NY · On-site

$70K - $90K/yr

This hands-on role includes daily production, menu development, recipe testing, ordering and inventory oversight, and maintaining food, labor, health, and safety standards. The Pastry Sous Chef is ...

Morrow Hospitality

Sous Chef

New Orleans, LA · On-site

$52K - $65K/yr

Work closely with the Executive Chef on menu engineering, recipe testing, and ingredient sourcing, with a specific focus on Asian cuisine techniques and flavors. * Maintain a clean, organized, and ...

Nbutexas

Unit Chef

Eden Prairie, MN · On-site

$90 - $120/hr

Participating in other menu planning activities including the determination of purchasing specifications, product and recipe testing, and menu development * Assisting operation managers as requested ...

Southern Table Hospitaltiy

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Chef De Cuisine

Jacksonville, FL · On-site

$60K - $80K/yr

Maintain recipe adherence, portion control, and food quality standards. Assist with seasonal menu development, specials, and recipe testing. Maintain high standards of cleanliness, organization, and ...

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All JobsRecipe Testing Jobs

Recipe Testing information

See salary details

$31K

$90.6K

$146K

How much do recipe testing jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 16, 2026, the average yearly pay for recipe testing in the United States is $90,579.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $35,000.00 and $119,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

How do you become a recipe tester?

To become a recipe tester, you should have strong cooking skills, attention to detail, and the ability to follow and evaluate recipes accurately. Gaining experience through cooking classes, food blogging, or culinary training can be helpful, and some positions may require knowledge of food safety and nutrition. Building a portfolio or submitting samples to food publications or companies can also improve your chances of getting hired.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a recipe tester, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Recipe Tester, you need a strong background in culinary techniques, attention to detail, and the ability to accurately follow and evaluate recipes, often supported by culinary education or professional kitchen experience. Familiarity with kitchen equipment, food safety standards, and digital platforms for documenting results are commonly required. Excellent communication, organization, and problem-solving skills help you provide clear feedback and collaborate with recipe developers. These abilities ensure recipes are reliable, reproducible, and enjoyable for a wide audience.

What is recipe testing?

Recipe testing is the process of preparing and evaluating recipes to ensure they are accurate, reliable, and produce consistent results. Recipe testers follow a recipe exactly as written, noting any issues with instructions, ingredient measurements, timing, and overall taste or texture. The goal is to identify and fix any problems before the recipe is published or shared with others, ensuring a positive cooking experience for home cooks. Recipe testing can be done by professional testers, chefs, or enthusiastic home cooks, and is an essential step in cookbook publishing and food media.

How much do recipe testers get paid?

Recipe testers typically earn between $10 and $25 per hour, depending on experience, location, and the complexity of the recipes. Some may be paid per project or receive a flat fee for testing specific recipes, especially in freelance or contract roles.

What is the difference between Recipe Testing vs Food Stylist?

AspectRecipe TestingFood Stylist
Primary RoleDevelops and refines recipes to ensure they work consistently and taste good.Prepares and styles food for photography or filming to enhance visual appeal.
Skills & CredentialsCooking skills, recipe development, food knowledge, often culinary training.Food presentation, styling techniques, creativity, photography knowledge.
Work EnvironmentTest kitchens, culinary labs, or home kitchens.Photo studios, set locations, or on-location shoots.
Industry UsageUsed by food companies, publishers, and recipe developers.Used by advertising agencies, magazines, and food brands.

While both roles involve working with food, Recipe Testing focuses on creating and perfecting recipes, whereas Food Styling emphasizes making food visually appealing for media. Both roles often collaborate but serve different purposes in the food industry.

What are some common challenges faced by recipe testers, and how can they be managed effectively?

One of the main challenges recipe testers encounter is ensuring consistency and accuracy across multiple test runs, as small variations in ingredient brands, kitchen equipment, or environmental factors can impact results. Managing time efficiently is also important, since recipes often require multiple rounds of testing and detailed documentation. To address these challenges, successful recipe testers meticulously record every step, use standardized measurements, and communicate closely with developers and editors to clarify any ambiguities. Collaboration and attention to detail are key to producing reliable, user-friendly recipes.
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Cities with the most Recipe Testing job openings:

What states have the most Recipe Testing jobs?

States with the most job openings for Recipe Testing jobs include:

What job categories do people searching Recipe Testing jobs look for?

The top searched job categories for Recipe Testing jobs are:

Recipe Testing jobs near you
Infographic showing various Recipe Testing job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 85% Full Time, and 15% Part Time. Highlights an 80% In-person, 5% Hybrid, and 15% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $90,579 per year, or $43.5 per hour.

Recipe Developer

Purple Carrot

Chicago, IL • On-site

$60K - $70K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 4 days ago

Job description

About Purple Carrot
Founded in 2014, Purple Carrot delivers clean, long-lasting energy through the power of plants. As the only company in America devoted entirely to plant-based eating, we have spent over a decade perfecting the balance of protein and fiber that only plants can provide. Offering chef-crafted, dietitian-designed meals delivered right to your door, we make plant-forward eating effortless, flexible, and endlessly exciting. Our menu spans quick weeknight dishes, occasion-worthy dinners, breakfast, lunch, snacks, and ready-to-eat meals.
Purple Carrot prioritizes taste and flexibility, offering no membership fees, the freedom to skip or unskip weekly deliveries whenever you want, and a no-pressure, cancel-anytime policy. We pride ourselves on doing plants better than anyone else - and we have the receipts to prove it.
Description
We are looking for a Recipe Developer to join our mission-driven team. As an integral part of the Culinary department, you will join forces with the Director of Culinary (to whom you will also report) in our continued effort to inspire people to eat more plants!
We are looking for candidates who are obsessed with food, highly creative, and enjoy collaborating in both small and large groups.
This position will play an important role in Purple Carrot's continued effort to cultivate the plant-based revolution - one meal at a time, through delicious, well-executed recipes.
As the Recipe Developer, you will be focused on end-to-end culinary recipe development from ideation through initial editorial steps, day-to-day test kitchen operations, and close partnership with Creative and Content teams to bring recipes to life across photoshoots and brand initiatives.
We greatly thank all applicants; however, only those under serious consideration will be contacted.
Location
  • This role is based in Chicago, IL, with on-site presence 3-5 days per week at our Culinary office and studio (West Town & Fulton Market) and creative and production partners as needed.

On the Plate
  • Drive end-to-end culinary recipe development from ideation through initial editorial steps, within menu timelines, operational guidelines, and nutrition and budget goals.
  • Own continual testing and optimization of Purple Carrot's recipes to improve customer experience, with a focus on ease, nutrition, and budget.
  • Accurately formulate, test, and document all recipes in accordance with standards set by the Director of Culinary.
  • Evaluate all recipes during development and team tastings, grounding decisions in recipe data and customer insights.
  • Contribute innovative, trend-forward recipe concepts through ongoing research and concept generation.
  • Manage day-to-day kitchen operations, including inventory, maintenance, and cleanliness.
  • Collaborate on photoshoot prep, styling, and execution in partnership with the Creative team.
  • Manage the intake and documentation of all sample products.
  • Assist with ad-hoc projects and tasks as necessary.

Main Ingredients for the Role
  • 5+ years of experience as a line cook, chef, or recipe developer; test kitchen experience a plus.
  • Culinary degree and/or related professional cooking experience.
  • Recipe writing experience, with food styling experience for e-commerce or editorial use.
  • Proficiency in Google Suite, especially Google Sheets.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
  • Physically able to stand for long periods and lift up to 35 lbs as needed.
  • Able to commute to the Chicago office/studio as required for this role.

Extra Special Sauce
  • Experience developing a wide range of recipe categories, including multiple serving sizes, dessert, and large-batch prepared.
  • Experience in meal kit or prepared recipe development.
  • Comfortable being on camera for social and marketing content, with a natural, engaging presence that reflects the fun and vibrant tone of our brand.
  • Experience using Asana project management platform.
  • Brings creativity and positivity to ambiguity, comfortable brainstorming and iterating with Culinary and Marketing on brand initiatives.

Compensation
The anticipated base salary range for this role is $60,000- $70,000. Compensation is based on experience and qualifications, and the posted range is not a guarantee of any specific offer.
Garnish
We love our staff, and show it with benefits (including but not limited to medical, dental, vision, FSA, and life insurance), matching retirement plan, generous and flexible paid time off, Purple Carrot box delivery credits, professional development, and the opportunity to work in collaboration with teammates who are passionate about food!
Final Touches
We are committed to a safe and inclusive work environment, free of discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, genetics, national origin, ancestry, age, medical condition, mental or physical disability, handicap, veteran status, or marital status.

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